Order of Service, March 8, 2020

JOURNEY IN PROGRESS

Rev Brian Chenowith, Guest Minister

Rachel Melcher, Worship Assistant

Welcome and Announcements 

Prelude: Let It Go (K. Anderson-Lopez & R. Lopez)

Reading: Map of the Journey in Progress, by Rev Victoria Safford

Lighting the Chalice Flame: We light this chalice flame this morning to remind us to be present in this moment, this link between what was and what yet shall be.  May this flame gather us in and hold us in joy and gratitude.

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law.  This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Hymn: #1000 Morning Has Come

Morning has come, arise and greet the day! Dance with joy and sing a song of gladness! The light of hope here shines upon each face. May it bring faith to guide our journey home.

A new day dawns, once more the gift is giv’n. Wonder fills this moment shared together. The light of peace here shines upon each face. May it bring faith to guide our journey home.

Open our eyes to see that life abounds. Open hearts to welcome it among us. The light of love here shines upon each face. May it bring faith to guide our journey home.

Children’s Faith Development Program:  
Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Responsive Reading: #567 To Be of Use

Quiet Time and Candle Lighting

Offertory: Bless the Broken Road (M. Hummon, B. Boyd & J. Hanna)

Hymn: #318 We Would Be One

Sermon: Journey of Progress, Rev Brian Chenowith

Hymn: #131 Love Will Guide Us

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Benediction

Postlude: This Will Be Our Year (The Zombies)

Order of Service, March 1, 2020

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM 101: BEYOND DECONSTRUCTION

The Rev Kenn Hurto, Guest Minister

Barbara Hatzfeld, Service Assistant

May we have faith in life to do wise planting, that the generations to come may reap even more abundantly than we. May we be bold in bringing to fruition the gold dreams of human kinship and justice. This we pray that the fields of promise become fields of reality. -- The Rev V. Emil Gudmundson

Ringing of the Chime

Prelude: Air on the G String (J. S. Bach)

Call to Community: The Mission of Our Faith by William F. Schulz


Lighting the Chalice Flame: Let the lighting of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of joy, of hope. And as one flame lights another, we pledge ourselves to be bearers of the light wherever we are.

Hymn: #145 As Tranquil Streams 

Responsive Reading: #657 It Matters What We Believe

Hymn: #1010 We Give Thanks (sing twice)
Oh, we give thanks for this precious day.
For all gathered here and those far away.
For this time we share with love and care,
Oh, we give thanks for this precious day.

Welcome to this Free Church

A Time for All Ages

Children’s Faith Development Program: Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer

Hymn: #391 Voice Still and Small 

Readings: 
Things Commonly Believed Among Us by Wm. Channing Ganett, 1887
Unitarians Face a New Age by Unitarian Commission of Appraisal, 1936

Choral Anthem: Circle Round for Freedom (L. Hirschorn)

Sermon: Unitarian Universalism 101: Beyond Deconstruction, Rev Kenn Hurto

Offertory: Gymnopedies (E. Satie)

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another.

Hymn: #1017 Building a New Way 

We are building a new way. We are building a new way
We are building a new way, feeling stronger every day.
We are building a new way.

We are working to be free. We are working to be free.
We are working to be free — hate and greed and jealously.
We are working to be free.

We can feed our every need. We can feed our every need. 
We can feed our every need. Start with love, that is the seed.
We can feed our every need. 

Peace and freedom is our cry. Peace and freedom is our cry.  
Peace and freedom is our cry.  Without these this world will die.
Peace and freedom is our cry. 

Benediction

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Postlude: Spanish Dance No. 5 (E. Granados)

Stewardship Minute: Dorie Maxwell


Announcements

Order of Service, February 23, 2020

THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING AND MAINTAINING HAPPINESS

Reverend Dr. John G. Brown III

Dr. Richard Hattwick, Service Leader

Welcome and Announcements 

Prelude: Sing “A Song” (J. Raposo)

Lighting the Chalice Flame: Let the lighting of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of joy and of hope. And as one flame lights another, we pledge ourselves to be bearers the light wherever we are. 

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law.  This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Hymn: #361 Enter, Rejoice and Come In

Story for All Ages: It Takes a Village by Hillary Rodham Clinton 

Children’s Faith Development Program: Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

A Meditation on Happiness

Quiet Time

Offertory: Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep (I. Berlin)

Hymn: #21 For the Beauty of the Earth

Sermon: Today’s sermon will explore some obvious and some nonobvious ways of finding happiness in our lives. Certainly our relationship with others is a vital foundation for happiness. How do we keep happiness alive and well for an extended period of time?

Hymn: #123 Spirit of Life

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.  These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Benediction

Postlude: Soulshine (W. Haynes)

Stewardship Minute

Order of Service, February 16, 2020

JAZZ AND THE UU SPIRIT

Linda Hartley, Service Leader

Prelude: When the Saints Go Marching In (Traditional)   

Welcome and Announcements

Introduction of Visitors

Opening Words  

Lighting the Chalice Flame: Let the lighting of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of joy and of hope. And as one flame lights another, we pledge ourselves to be the bearers of the light wherever we are.

Hymn: #118 This Little Light of Mine

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another.

Amazing Grace (J. Newton) Vocals by Linda Hartley

Just a Closer Walk with Thee (Traditional) Vocals by Vangie Gruen

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer/ Candle Lighting 
Autumn Leaves (J. Kosma, J. Prevert & J. Mercer) Tim Kogstrom on recorder.

Hymn: #123 Spirit of Life

Social Justice Minute

Homily/Offertory: St. James Infirmary Blues (D. Redman) 
Vocals by Henry Gruen

Homily: All of Me (G. Marks & S. Simons) Vocals by Vangie Gruen

It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (D. Ellington & I. Mills)
Vocals by Linda Hartley

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words

Words from Stewardship Committee: Dorie Maxwell

Postlude: All Blues (M. Davis)

Musicians:
Ken Pernezny, Drums
Karl Osterman, Bass
Henry Gruen, Trombone & Vocals
Howie Stone, Piano
Ryan Monaghan, Guitar
Tim Kogstrom, Recorders
Vangie Gruen, Vocals
Linda Hartley, Vocals

Order of Service, February 9, 2020

AGAPE:  THE LOVE FEAST

Service Leader: Amy Stauber

Service Assistant: Larry Stauber

Introduction

Hymn: #131 Love Will Guide Us 

Welcome and Announcements 

Prelude

Lighting the Chalice Flame: Love Can Transform the World (M. Killoran)  
Love is the aspiration, the spirit that moves and inspires this faith we share.  Rightly understood, love can nurture our spirits and transform the world.  May the flame of this chalice honor and embody the power and the blessing of the love we need, the love we give, the love we are challenged always to remember.  

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law.  This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Reading

Hymn: #18 What Wondrous Love

Time for All Ages:  Hey, Wall:  A Story of Art and Community, by Susan Verde

Children’s Faith Development Program:  
Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Quiet Time, Meditation, Candle Lighting

Offertory: Lean on Me (B. Withers)

Sermon: Agape: The Love Feast, Amy Stauber

Hymn: #123 Spirit of Life

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.  These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words

Postlude: All You Need is Love (J. Lennon & P. McCartney)

Stewardship

Order of Service, February 2, 2020

THIS I BELIEVE

Rev. Al Boyce, Guest Minister

Nickie Albert, Service Assistant

Prelude: The Impossible Dream (M. Leigh & J. Darion)  

Welcome and Announcements

Introduction of Visitors

Opening Words: Community Means Strength, by Starhawk

Lighting the Chalice Flame: Hymn #188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are; Chalice Lighter Dorie Maxwell, Stewardship Campaign Coordinator

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another.

Hymn: #21 For the Beauty of the Earth

Children’s Faith Development Program:  David Traupman 
Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Ancient Reading: Jefferson Letter to Nephew Paul Carr 1787

Moment of Silence and Candle Lighting

Modern Reading: This I Believe, by Isabel Allende

Offertory: Don’t Stop Believing (Journey)

Sermon: This I Believe, Rev. Al Boyce

Hymn: #34 Though I May Speak With Bravest Fire

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words: May the Love that Overcomes All Differences, by Frederick Gillis

Postlude: You Raise Me Up (R. Lovland & B. Graham)

Words from Stewardship Committee

Town Hall Meeting

Order of Service, January 26, 2020

MANAGING CONFLICT

Reverend Dr. John G. Brown III

Dr. Richard Hattwick, Service Leader

Prelude: Peace (H. Silver) Guitar solo Larry Carsman

Welcome 

Announcements 

Lighting the Chalice Flame: Let the lighting of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of joy and of hope. And as one flame lights another, we pledge ourselves to be bearers of the light wherever we are.

Affirmation: 
We, the members of this Congregation, covenant to affirm and promote these Seven Principles
1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregation
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in society at large
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

Hymn: #188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are

Story for All Ages

Children’s Faith Development Program:
Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

A Meditation on Anger

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer:
Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant: To dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Offertory: We Can Work It Out (J. Lennon & P. McCartney)

Hymn: #355 We Lift our Hearts in Thanks

Sermon: Managing Conflict, Rev. Dr. John G. Brown III

Hymn: #123 Spirit of Life

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.  These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Benediction

Postlude: Peace Train (C. Stevens)